Gym of the Year FINALIST

Basingstoke Sports Centre is celebrating this week after being named a finalist in the UK’s National Fitness Awards. The Centre was chosen from many entries across the Country and has been shortlisted in the Leisure Trust Gym of the Year category. The winner will be announced at an annual event in December that recognises excellence and achievement in fitness provision nationwide.

Chief Executive for the Trust, James Starbuck, said “I’m immensely proud that Basingstoke Sports Centre has been shortlisted as a finalist for the second year in a row. This is clearly attributable to the amazing team of staff throughout the business, the exceptional service we strive to provide our members and recognises the £500,000 upgrade to the Evolve gym last year. At a time when our future is threatened by the Council’s decision to support an unnecessary and significant leisure development at Basing View, it is particularly pleasing that our contribution to health, wellbeing and physical activity is again being recognised at a national level.”

Evolve gym underwent a full refurbishment in December 2016, seeing the installation of the latest cardio, resistance and strength equipment from Pulse Fitness. This included a brand new bespoke functional rig, interactive CardioWalls, WattBikes and TruForm curved treadmills alongside over 50 pieces of cardio equipment. At the gym continues to ‘evolve’ a tyre-flip machine will be added later this month, which will add another layer of functional fitness to customer’s workouts.

The next stage involves a visit to each finalist by a member of the awards team who will take a look around the facilities and talk to members and staff before compiling a comprehensive report that will be passed on to an expert judging panel.

National Fitness Awards’ event director Judith Halkerston said: “All our shortlisted facilities should be really proud of their achievements in being chosen as a finalist as the calibre of entries has been amazing."